Automation – Page 409
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ArticleSafety comes first
Different safety needs for automationSelf-installation systemWithout the right level of protection, assembly can be a hazardous place. Thankfully there is a plethora of barrier-free innovations designed to make even the most automated lines safe for all workersFor all its benefits, it is easy to forget that with automation comes the ...
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ArticleIn the heat of the moment
Infrared heating has enabled the paintshop to keep up with the demands of increased production meaning that these days you can watch paint dry in next to no timeMedium-wave means minutesWide applicationFitting the billSince its introduction in the 1950s, the application of infrared heating has increased in the automotive industry. ...
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ArticleEditor's Note: Automotive Paintshop Solutions
Implementing effective paint shop strategies has never been more vital to capturing the customer’s attention and loyalty, and keeping cost down and efficiency up. From the ever-increasing expectations of the end user to the need to protect the environment in material and energy usage, the challenges for the automotive paint ...
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ArticleStuck on you
How the process worksA new development from 3M is claimed to revolutionise paint detail on vehicles with its design possibilitiesAnew concept in vehicle enhancement solutions has been introduced by 3M, which will improve the appearance and appeal of vehicles. The concept offers unlimited design possibilities to OEM designers and stylists ...
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ArticleQuality at any cost?
Measuring suitable for varied model mixesNotifying staff when tolerances are outComparing absolute data with CAD dataHigher accuracy levelsVerifying sub-assembly buildsThe latest measurement innovations for assembly line environments and an assessment of whether ‘quality at any cost’ still holds trueNot so long ago, the remit for production engineers was to remove ...
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ArticleCoatings that are up to scratch
Nature's wayRefinish with reboundOne-component marketTipping the nanoscalesEven a tiny scratch can spoil the look of a good paint finish, so BASF Coatings has studied how nature resists at the nanoscale and come up with a new optionIn addition to its original protective function, the marketing significance of a vehicle’s finish ...
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ArticleUltimate simplicity and flexibility in handling systems from Geico
Geico’s patented conveyor system for pre-treatment and e-coat plants – J-Flex – has shown simple design, extreme planning fl exibility and effi cient production. It minimises the stress on the body whilst improving the treatment in the most hidden parts. In addition, the company’s DPH-06 new powder paint pump, has ...
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ArticlePigs in the paint shop
VarioBell at Rehau Robots on the inside Plastic component supplier Rehau and BMW have both benefited from the latest paint line technology supplied by Eisenmann. And it’s based on a pigging system that enables rapid paint changes with little loss Surface finishing is one of ...
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ArticleMix and match and measure
No more trial and errorProblem solvingThe growing catalogue of effect paints now flooding the automotive market means matching and measuring colour is more of a challenge than ever. X-Rite has come up with a new tool which it says will make the job easierX-Rite has launched its xDNA system with ...
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ArticleSnow-jet cleaning system
System had to be reliable, above allFast and flexibleOptimum results with the patented cleaning headA subcontractor is using a CO2 snow-jet cleaning system integrated into the manufacturing process, instead of a powerwash system to clean plastic parts for the motor vehicle industry. This reduces both operating costs and rejects caused ...
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ArticleNew methods for manufacturing
Welding robotsMilitary spaceframesThroat sizeMoulding the linerPUR skinLFI InmoldTaking out the VOCsBy-passing the bridgeResearch effortScanning for accuracyProduction futureTier suppliers and manufacturers of vehicles outside the passenger car market have long been pioneers in the adoption of new technologies. AMS examines some of the latest innovations and techniques being used to cut ...
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ArticleKeeping things under control
Quick start upFast and flexibleABB has released its new IRC5P controller, an integrated system that makes painting processes more flexible, give users more control over the entire system and makes coating more efficientThe latest version of ABB’s PC-based software for configuring and operating painting installations – IRC5P – offers outstanding ...
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ArticleFlexible friend at Magna Steyr
Lowering plant emissionsA complete solutionMatching market conditionsThe Chrysler assembly lineGlass applicationExperienced production line teamsCovering all the basesWhat is it about Magna Steyr that convinces OEMs to come to you to build their cars? Gerhard Stiegler, Vice-President of Operations does not hesitate with his answer. “Our flexibility, our range of services ...
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ArticlePlasma for the perfect finish
Activating and cleaning surfacesBonding to polymerVehicle partsCorrosion protectionIf a brand is to score it needs to look good and this means that pre-treatment prior to the final surface coating is essential. One way to achieve this is through the high activation of surfaces using atmospheric pressure plasma. The process, using ...
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ArticleEditor's Note: The cost of doing business
It is likely that surging material prices will have an increasingly detrimental effect on company profit margins. Prices of hot-rolled coil in the US and Europe have ranged from $1,100 to $1,200 per metric ton, and are anticipated to reach $1,500 by the end of 2008. Similarly, the price of ...
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ArticleA new scheme for colour
Increasing demandThermoforming and mouldingLearning processHigh-volume productionPaint-free technology for automotive applications is moving forward at a rapid pace, driven by a need for environmentally-friendly and cost-effective alternatives to traditional painting operations. Paint films provide huge benefits, such as the elimination of paint lines and their associated emissions of Volatile Organic Compounds ...
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ArticleKeeping down the costs
New campusEnergy savingsCost controlCool ideasSmaller boothsChemicals and coatingsPaint-shop experts Dürr and Eisenmann are maintaining their position in the market during these difficult times by embracing the energy-saving and sustainable technologyWhen 90 per cent of your business is accounted for by one industry you have to be certain that it is ...
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ArticleGone in 60 seconds
Finding the energyThree-wetPride in the pre-treatmentLocal solutions to legislationScratching the surfaceFinding the right cureLessons in lightnessFord’s first Model Ts came in grey, red and Brewster Green, but the paint shop that Mark Nichols, the OEM's Technical Leader of Paint Research, knows is used to a lot more varietyThere is no ...
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ArticleMaking a clean job of car coating
Efficient coatingOstrich feathersPowder coat expertiseRust never sleepsBMW’s Leipzig plant employs up-to date paint shop technology to ensure each car finishes up to the highest standard and does so with minimal environmental impactNowhere is this more obvious than in the paint shop, which backs modern processes with the latest environmental credentials, ...
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ArticleLaser-sharp products
A full range of products on showGiving a flawless appearanceCutting maintenance costsThis year’s Euroblech exhibition, running from 21-25 October in Hanover, Germany, will again be the world’s leading sheet metalworking show. A preview of some of the products and services that will be shownMore than 140 companies, from Italy, Taiwan ...